Breakdown of 1979 S Uid Catches in Subarea 3 and Division 4R, with Length and Sex Corn Ositions from Offshore and Newfoundland Inshore Commercial Samples By

NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR(S)

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

Serial No. N065 NAFO SCR Doc. 80/11/34

SPECIAL MEETING OF SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL - FEBRUARY 1980

Breakdown of 1979 S uid Catches in Subarea 3 and Division 4R, with Length and Sex Corn ositions from Offshore and Newfoundland Inshore Commercial Samples by

P. C. Beck, E. G. Dawe, and J. Drew Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Center P. O. Box 5667, St. Johns, Nfld., Canada

Introduction

This paper presents 1979 commercial squid (Illex ilTecebrosus) landings, broken down by month and ICNAF division. Also included are

length frequency distributions, maturity stages, mean lengths and

weights and sex composition.

Landings for 1979 are also presented in comparison to those of

prev;ous years (Squires 1957, Mercer 1973a. Collins and Ennis 1973, Hurley et al. 1979). The squid catch for 1979 reached a record high

level. However, landings reported from the offshore fishery were

lower than those of the previous year (Hurley et al. 1979).

Materials and Methods

Monthly inshore landings of squid by ICNAF Div (Fig. 1) were obtained

from the Economics and Intelligence Branch, Department of Fisheries and

Oceans, Newfoundland Region. Offshore catches in Subarea 3 were made

available by the FLASH information system and from logs of developmental

charters. All figures for 1979 are preliminary.

During 1979 inshore samples were obtained from commercial catches at

Holyrood (ICNAF Div. 3L), Twillingate (ICNAF Div. 3K), Hermitage and

Harbour Breton (ICNAF Div. 3Ps). The location of sampling sites is shown

in Fig. 2. No samples were obtained at any of these localities before

July. Offshore samples (ICNAF Div. 30) were collected by the Foreign

Observer Group, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. Johns. -2-

Dorsal mantle lengths by sex were reported to the nearest half centi- meter. Maturities were classified based on the scale proposed by Mercer

(1973b). Length frequencies were summarized biWeekly for those periods when samples were taken.

Landings

Total landings for ICNAF Subarea 3 and Div. 4R, 1979, was 81,820 metric tons (Table 1). This represents an 85 percent increase above

landings reported for 1978 (Fig. 3). However, offshore landings (2435 metric tons) are only 48 percent of the 1978 offshore catch. Offshore

landings for 1979 comprise only three percent of the total landings.

However, this is probably underestimated due to incomplete reporting of

squid catches by foreign vessels. The small catch reported for ICNAF

Div. 3M (Table 1) serves as evidence of this, as it is known that a

substantial squid fishery was executed in that dividion in 1979.

The record hi gh squid-catch for 1979 is probably due to many

factors. These include extended wharfage processing by foreign trawler,-

increased squid processing, facilities, utilization of facilities which

were normally used for other species, and others (Hurley 1980).

Overall, fishermen were able to sell more squid in 1979 than in

previous years due to expanded processing facilities, however dumping

of unsellable catches occurred in some areas. The general opinion of

fishermen was that squid abundance in 1979 was comparable to that of 1978. However, this may not be true for all areas.

Length Frequencies

Length frequency distributions by sex for Twillingate, Holyrood,

Hermitage, Harbour. Breton and ICNAF Div. 39 are shown in Fig. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively. For males, frequencies were broken down by maturity

stages. All females were immature. For ICNAF Div. 30 maturity stages

are presented only for the period ending October 15. Biweekly changes

in sex composition, mean mantle length, and mean body weight are presented

in Fig. 9, 10 and 11 respectively.

As in 1978, mean lengths and weights increased throughout the

season for both sexes and all ICNAF divisions. Increase in length between biweekly periods was smallest late in the season. This is probably due to late-season offshore emigration of larger animals (Hurley et al. 1979).

Literature Cited

Collins, P.W. and G. P. Ennis 1978. Breakdown of inshore Newfoundland

squid catches, 1975-77 with length and sex composition from

commercial samples ICNAF Res. Doc. 78/11/6.

Hurley, G.V. 1980. Recent Developments in the Squid (Illex illecebrosus)

Fishery of Newfoundland, Canada. Marine Fisheries Review (in press).

Hurley, G.V., P. Beck and J. Drew 1979. Breakdown of Squid catches in

ICNAF Sub area 3, 1978, with length and sex composition from

offshore and Newfoundland inshore samples. ICNAF Res. Doc. 79/11/27 Ser. No. 5353.

Mercer, M.C. 1973a. Nominal catch of squid in Canadian Atlantic waters

(Subareas 2-4) 1920-68. ICNAF Res. Doc 73/73 Serial No 3025: 10 p.

1973b. Sexual maturity and sex ratios of the omnastrephid squid,

Illex illecebrosus (Le Sueur) at Newfoundland (Subarea 3). ICNAF

Res. Doc. 73/71 Ser. No 3023: 14 p.

Squires, H.d. 1957. Squid, Illex illecebrosus (Le Sueur), in the Newfoundland

fishing area. J. Fish. Res. Board Can 14: 693-728.

Table 1. Squid landings (metric tons) at Newfoundland by Division, 1979.

MONTH ICNAF Div TOTALS June July August September October November

2G 2H 2J 3K 73 1,787 8,711 3,627 11 14,209 3L 13 5,002 11,040 17,611 12,401 2,827 48,894 3M 2 2 3N 43 3 7 14 75 30 12 370 285 979 671 39 2,356 PS 4 1,917 6,030 4,752 1,709 79 14,491 3PN 853 587 314 1,754 4R 27 7 2 39 37Total 7,365 20,065 32,652 184,731 2 970 81,820

. 45° 65° 60° I\ r_._ 1.___ ....T._ 5..... r -- I I I I\\ I I \ t, \ r.... APE cHTLEY \\ IF e 60° `. \

• • S. I. OUIRPON 2. ST. ANTHONY RAMAH 2G 3. ENGLEE 4. LA SCIE 5. TWILLINGATE 6. CHANGE ISLANDS T. JOE BATTS ARM B. SELDOM-COME -BY VALLEYFIELD 10. GREENSPONO II. BONAVIS TA 12. CATALINA •• 13. OIL DO 14. HARBOUR GRACE • IS. HOLYR000 16• ST. JOHNS• NAti■ 17. FERRIAGE 2H •‘ 1B. TRE PASSE Y \ 19. ST. MARYS 20. MER ASHE EN S I. BURIN 22. FORTUNE HOPEDALE 2 3. GRAND RANK 24. GAULTOIS 55. 21 RARE A --- k 2 7. BURGEO S 6. ISLE \ )11 A MILTOfd, ELX IA OR T S PORT AUX BASQUES ‘`, ( INLET PORT AU CHOIR LABRADOR ‘03ANK/ 2J 30. FORTE AU

Coastline 4,130141110,,, 30 Fate. SO Foth., ••• ... • . . • 100 Foth. HAWKt S 200. Font. 1000. POW Boundory of ICNAF area - %tindery of sub, areas Boundary of subdivisions - - - - - BATTLE HR. ,e (BELLE ISLE `‘ BANK ., 1 \ ••...... • • QUEBEC FUNK IsibAND Rota 3K

,,,,,,4.,,• ,,,,,,NS 50° 4S • +, • 50° C`11------J4. • BONN( d ,444 0;uNic IS -GUL i ‘• - -/// ,57/ ,:.-, . I ,.,..,,,,./ OF .. "IIIINgFS LF;) 4,.-9.310 1 "-- - ST LAWRENCE I 4 R Is..- .0, to ci;-,, - — I . .,,,. NEWFOUNDLAND ;,10°Tis 1 I. 4.,.---,,.1 i •,, " -4ftfi ♦ ST GEORGES, : .412 . ,.,- \o„,,,. ORPHAN _ --- -•,.., I \P"-,,,,..0o,o, . BANK. 46": - .-,..-4T 1 5 1 it- • -: 16 ,ertaoeCLE; , MAGDALEN / tl, _27, , — —23Aiii,,,,GE,30.., ,p,BANK;, . .. ..." / , IS. X .ro, ‘ ‘B UR G E 3,,,,—"i4i ,S,, co4.,,t■c:.0,6" cocil , 9 417 - ‘‘ \ --" NI" L 1 12.. ,-, \ ,, ‘ . . . .., EDWARD IS. ■( IS. ..STPiERRE L, \ CAPE RACE :. 4 s ,, YYDNE , \ , s. ._ . 4, s - s- .. k", ST PIERRE , ~/ti ...... _ ; t.,.‘‘ . • BANK ,GREEN 17 _ _ , , . , , • . ,, ,‘,C,i; , 7, -\ ., BANK ) / 3M i . MISAINE -,, , l4,\\ .• i WHALE ..1. , BANK; , r ‘ "r„,, \, DEEP 45 - 711. /- s--t - :. S\ - - . .... 45° I, T t., l -,--- •.,..03 ‘, "1, n • HALIFAX -4—:- s000E ., `, e N...... / . • ■ ,,‘;- , S SE. 1 ,--.,),-,- .. .• ,... i ‘ 3P --1, , - 5, A on, • •1, / SHOAL o.. 4,) ", • 4, , c, 0.0‘. ) I SL•e--. . : ) . - 4V ♦. L ir .Si-e;..---.-- _ - - \ I .... 1 . • 1 I -1 I \I 1

55° 50° 45°

Fi g 1. Map of Northwest Atlantic ICNAF Subareas 56° 550. 54° 530 52°

49° 49°

48° 48°

47° 47°

56° 55° 54° • 530 Fig. 2. Map of eastern Newfoundland showing inshore sampling locations. 48

0 40

U a 0 32

I. t I t 1 ► I i I i 1 a 1 1 a 1 ► 1 ► 1 1 i 1 1 1 1952 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 TO 72 74 76 TO 80

YEAR Fig. 3. Yearly llandings of squid at Newfoundland for the period 1952-79. 45

40 TWILLINGATE 1979 IMMATURE 35 PERIOD (ENDING N.250 N. 266 MAT A 30 )1:231 SEPTEMBER 15 X: 24.9 MAT C 2 5 MATURE 2 0

40 OCTOBER 15 35 N :88 N=129 30 51:23.6 25-3 25

r-- 18 20 22 24 26 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 MANTLE LENGTH (CM)

Fig. 4. Length frequencies and maturity staves by sex for biweekly periods in 1979 a t Twillingate.

1 I r------I TTI I .1"• T I- I 1 50 HOLYROOD MALES 1979 FEMALES 40 PERIOD ENDING IMMATURE JULY 15 MAT A 30 WA MAT C N=163 N=88 MATURE 20 = 18 6 = 19:2 I0 0 r Fr71 JULY 31 30 -- N=122 N = 87 20 -- = 18.9 19.7 10

AUGUST 15

SEPTEMBER 30 30- N = 181 N 154 20 - = 23.4 = 25.3

10 -

30 - N = 192 N = 161 R.23.3 g = 24.9 20 -

10 -

30 - N = 199 N = 155 20 = 23.0 24.9

--F---T - I T-r- 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 14 16 18 • 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 MANTLE LENGTH (CM)

Fig. 5. Length frequencies and maturity stages by sex for biweekly periods in 1979 at Holyrood. -

55 Tr [1111 F I FT -T- 50 HERMITAGE 45 1979 PERIOD ENDING 40 MALES FEMALES 35 AUGUST 15 ■ IMMATURE 30 MAT A N =117 N = 225 ■ 25 MAT C X = 19.2 21 5 20 ■ MATURE 15 I0 5 0

45 AUGUST 31 40 1- 35 N 25 N = 88 tt 30 = 21.1 = 22.9 LYJ 25 20 15 10 5 0 45 OCTOBER 15 40 35 N = 94 N = 23.8 30 g=21.9 = 2 3.8 25 20 15 10 5

0 111T1 -T- 1- 11 ---T11111 11 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 MANTLE LENGTH (CM)

Fig. 6. Length frequencies and maturity stages by sex for biweekly periods in 1979 at Hermitage. 60

35 IMMATURE 30 MAT A 25 MAT C 20 MATURE 15

40 AUGUST 31

25 N= 37 N = 171

20 = 21.4 = 23.1

15 cei) 10 Li 0_ 5

40 SEPTEMBER 15

35 = 82 N = 255 30 7)( = 21.2 = 23.0 25

5 0 SEPTEMBER 30 35

30 N = 43 N = 215

25 22.5 24.5

5 0 T-1111• 1I11111 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 MANTLE LENGTH (CM) Fig. 7. Length frequencies and maturity stages by sex for biweekly periods in 1979 at Harbour Breton. 45 40

35 No maturities available for this period 30 25 N= 295 N = 171 20 r(= 20.0 20.5

15 10

5 0

45 immature N N = 444 40 398 = 22.4 7= 2323.9.9 Mat A 35 Mat C 30 Mature 25 20 15 10 5 0 40 No maturities available 35 N = 53 for this period 30 = 22.0

25 20 15

10 5

I6 18 20 22 24 26 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

MANTLE LENGTH (CM) Fig. 8. Length frequencies and maturity stages by sex for biweekly periods in ICHAF Division 30 for 1979. ▪

— 13 —

70 I

50 et 0 E 0 0 40

43 , 30

,0 0 20 0 # ...... Twillingote —Holyrood 0 0.. 10 ----Hr. Breton .—Hrmitoge ICNAF Division 30 0)

I_ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 31 15 31 15 30 15 31 15 30 July August September October November

Period Ending Fig. 9 Percent males over the fishing season at four inshore sampling locations and ICNAF Division 30 in 1979. •

— 14 —

23 MALES

w 16 ze 25 FEMALES Lai 3a 24

21 Tvsiiingots 20 —Holyrood 19 — Hr. Breton —.Hermitage 18 ICNAF Division 3 0 0

16 30 15 31 15 31 15 30 15 31 15 July August September October November PERIOD ENDING Fig. 10. Mean lengths by sex over the fishing season at four inshore sampling locations and ICNAF Division 30 in 1979.

300

250

200

150

— 100 co 50

(.D al0 3e

I." 300

250

200

150 0 Twillingate —Holyrood I00 ----Hr. Breton ----Hermitage 50 IMF Division 30 0

0 1 1 15 31 15 31 15 30 15 31 15 30 July August September October November PERIOD ENDING Fig. 11. Mean weight by sex over the fishing season at four inshore sampling locations and ICNAF Division 30 in 1979.